Sora is a Japanese given name that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is of unknown origin and its meaning varies depending on the kanji used to write it.
One common interpretation of Sora is "sky" or "heaven". This is often associated with the kanji characters 空 or 曽良, which are pronounced as "sora" in Japanese. The name can be written using different kanji characters, each with its own meaning, such as 素良 (pure and good), 其拉 (each other) or even 其良 (good and strong).
In Japanese mythology, Sora is also the name of one of the seven Shichifukujin gods of fortune. Sora is often depicted riding a white horse and carrying a staff with a treasure bag attached to it.
The name Sora has been popularized in recent years by various forms of media, such as video games, anime, and manga. For example, Sora is the main character's name in the Kingdom Hearts series of video games, which has gained a large following worldwide.
Overall, Sora is a unique and beautiful Japanese given name with multiple meanings and origins. Its popularity continues to grow both within Japan and internationally.
The name Sora has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. In the 1970s, there were fewer than 12 births each year with the name Sora. However, starting from the late 1980s, the number of annual births began to rise steadily.
In the 1990s, the number of births each year with the name Sora ranged between 8 and 23. The peak of this decade was reached in 1998 with 23 births. This trend continued into the early 2000s, with annual birth counts ranging from 22 to 69.
The most significant growth occurred between 2005 and 2023, with a notable spike beginning around 2010. In 2010 alone, there were 69 births with the name Sora, which was more than double the previous year's total. This number has continued to grow, reaching 107 births in 2023.
Overall, from 1972 to 2023, there have been a total of 1598 births in the United States with the name Sora. This demonstrates that while the name was not particularly common earlier on, it has gained considerable traction in recent years and is now among the more popular names chosen for newborns in the U.S.